Obama now has 274 electoral votes to Romney's 203

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney is the winner in North Carolina, where both campaigns had worked to wrap up the state's 15 electoral votes.

While President Barack Obama hadn't returned to North Carolina since the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, first lady Michelle Obama was in the state Monday and former President Bill Clinton visited on Sunday.

Obama, meanwhile, has won Minnesota, despite a late Republican push in the state. And a win in California has given Obama an additional 55 electoral votes toward the 270 he needs to win a second term in office.

Mitt Romney has won in Arizona, with 11 electoral votes, and also in Idaho. But Romney earlier lost Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, two states in which his campaign had been hoping for a win.

Obama has also picked up the four electoral votes from Hawaii. Obama now has 274 electoral votes to Romney's 203.